By: Hannah Studdard, serving with Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Rounding out the first half of my second year, I can say with assurance that I am so glad I was welcomed back to Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge for a second term. It has been a joy to jump into projects with an understanding and interest that was not yet developed the first time around. My first few weeks back in the fall I was excited to begin our Cheat Mountain salamander surveys (such fun!) and attend a CMS workshop to further my knowledge about the Cheat Mountain salamander as well as other salamander species in the area. The workshop provided me with a new breadth of salamander facts and ID skills. I was also introduced to several professionals within the environmental field, including others in the Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, DNR, and environmental contractors. What a wonderful opportunity, one I will cherish and use when my service here in Canaan comes to a close.
A new trial project brought to the refuge this year was saw-whet owl surveys. Saw-whet owls are a smaller species of owl, being robin-like in size. Not much is known about their migration patterns, as they are extremely reclusive and nocturnal. This survey hopes to shed light on their migratory patterns by banding them and recording the birds’ weight and structure. Local birds tend to have more meat around their chest plate, whereas migrating birds are bony in the chest area and lighter in weight. Surveys were conducted on clear nights in November with winds blowing in a southerly direction, the most optimal conditions for migrating owls. Mist nets were set up in an ‘H’ formation in suitable habitat along Forest Road 80, such as open areas near conifer trees. A saw-whet call recording played on repeat, loud and beckoning, with hopes of bringing in the tiny owls. By the end of the surveying season, a lone female saw-what owl was caught and banded. She was thought to be a migrating owl, as she was quite small and had a bonier chest plate. What a cute little specimen she was! I was excited to be a part of the evening when she was caught and to hold one of the most reclusive owl species in the area.
The elusive Cheat Mountain Salamander
One of the outreach projects I looked forward to participating in again this year was the guided snowshoe tour at White Grass Nordic Ski Area. White Grass maintains a large area of trails on refuge property, and as a part of the partnership, AmeriCorps lead a snowshoe tour each winter. My topic this year was “Tips for Winter Weather Hiking and Camping”. It was a chilly, West Virginia morning with plenty of snow on the ground, perfect conditions for a talk about winter weather activities. I began my tour with a group of 13 people. We hiked to one of my favorite spots, the Freeland Run falls. The trail follows the creek through a conifer forest and up to one of the best known trails at White Grass, a lovely winter hike and introduction to the trail system on the refuge. At the falls we talked about strategies for camping and cooking in the snow, how to stay warm, and what to do in emergencies. Guests shared their own experiences and tips for what to do as well as what not to do. The hike was a great success and allowed participation of a wide breadth of age groups, as I planned for a break off point for those wanting a shorter hike. So while some made their way back towards the Nordic center, others continued on new trails for a longer day, and I finished out the tour with four guests. I enjoyed leading the hike, sharing some of my winter tips, and learning new ones from the guests!
This year and half has been a wild and wonderful experience, and I continue to look forward to more adventures as I finish out my last months at the refuge. I continue to learn useful skills and have made so many valuable connections. I am continuously reminded of the amazing opportunity to serve in this position and believe it will influence and benefit me in my career decisions for years to come.
